Lady&#39;s handbag and like container



1941- L. M. KUNKEL ETAL LADY'S HANDBAG AND LIKE CONTAINER Filed April24, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a a Q .M

lama (Zeal BY Patented Nov. 11, 1941 LADYS HANDBAG AND LIKE CONTAINERLeroy M. Kunkel and Chauncey J. Kunkel, Utica, N. Y.

Application April 24, B339, Serial No. 269,750

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to improvements in ladies handbags and likecontainers, and its general objectis to provide such containers withinterior and exterior illumination.

A further object of the invention is to provide a handbag or likecontainer with an adjustable reflector hood to facilitate theillumination of any particular compartment of the container.

A still further object-of the invention is to may be readily assembled.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the Fig. 11 is across-sectional view, taken on the line'lll| of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram bf the electrical circuit used inFigs. 8 and9f Referring now to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 isshown a conventional handbag l0, having a battery compartment l2, forthe purpose of housing batteries I4. A flap covering for the batteries,I5, is provided and a zipper fastener l6 may be used as a closure forthe compartment l2. A protective flap or outer covering 18 is providedfor the exterior illuminator 34.

In Fig. 2, partition is shown dividing the handbag into compartments 22and 24, and serving as a mount for light bulb 28. A manual switch 26 foroperating the light bulb, and an With these and other objects in view,as will hereinafter more fully appear, and as are more specificallypointed out in the appended claims, reference will now be had to theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters representsimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which- Fig. l is aside elevation view, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of Fig. 2, showing the flap in raised position,exposing the exterior illuminator.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, showing the handbag partially openedand the position of the manual switch..

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed front view of the exterior illuminator,partly in section, with the flap down, showing the semi-automatic switchin open position.

Fig. 6 is another view of flap raised and the semi-automatic switch inclosed position.

Fig. 'I is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuit used in the tom ofmy invention shown in Figs. 1-6, inclusive.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of a modificationshowing a slidin mirror in downward or retracted position, with thesemi-automatic switch in open position.

Fig. 9 is another view of Fig. 8, showing the Fig. 5, showing thesemi-automatic switch in closed position.

adjustable'refiector and protective hood 30 disposed over the light bulb28, are also mounted on the partition 20. Switch- 26 is actuated in themanner indicated in Fig. 4 when the handbag is opened.

The exterior illuminator is shown particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6,as comprising the light bulb 34 and reflector 36 mounted in a recessedportion of the handbag Ill, covered by the flap l8. A semi-automaticcontrol switch is provided for the light bulb 34, and consists of springcontacts 40 and 42 mounted in the recessed portion .of the handbagadjacent the light bulb 34 and an insulation member 38 carried by theflap l8 in' position to be inserted between contacts 40 and 42 throughan opening Raising of the flap to expose the exterior illuminatorsimultaneously efiects withdrawal of the insulation member 38 frombetween contacts 40 and 42 which then meet and establish the electricalcircuit to the-light bulb 34. The open circuit condition is shown inFigs. 2 and 5, and the closed condition in Figs. 3 and'6', wherein theflap I8 is raised and the bulb 34 is lighted.

Fig. '7 is a circuit diagram showing the connections from battery H inthe compartment ll of the handbag to light bulbs 28 and 34 throughswitches 26 and 40, 42 respectively. The conductors which carry thecurrent from the battery l4 to the exterior illuminator are insulatedand enter the recessed portion of the handbag as indicated in Figs. 5and 6, the insulated conductors being shown at 44 and 46. Switch 26 maybeany type of single circuit push-button switchadapted for mounting onthe partition 28, as shown. 7

Referring now to the modification shown in Figs. 8-11, a batterycompartment I2 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided, butin the partition 28 we provide a combined mirror and light bulbstructure with a semi-automatic switch arrangement. A mirror 48 ismounted in a U-shaped frame comprising two L-shaped members 50 and 5|,rigidly joined by an in- 10 sulation member which has a projectingportion 60 constituting a switch actuator. The mirror frame 50, 5|, isslidably mounted in guides 52 and 54 which are rigidly connected byinsulation members 56 and 58 and an intermediate conductive memberforming a switch contact 64.; A coacting switch contact 62 is formed onguide 54 and guides 52 and 54, as well as frame members 50 and 5!, areemployed as electrical conductors to the light bulb 28 which, in themodified form of our invention, is mounted directly in the adjustablereflector and protective hood 30.

The hood 30 is made of suitable insulation material, and has electricalconductors I8 and 80 extending from the socket 82 for light bulb 28 toopposite ends of the hood where contact projections 12 and 10 are formedthereon and engageable with contact recesses 16 and 14, formed in theconductive frame members 50 and 5|, respectively. By this mountingarrange- 3o ment, the hood 30-may be deflected to direct light invarious directions, as indicated by the dotted line position of the hoodin Fig. 11, and hood may be wholly detached to permit replacement of thebulb 28.

Connections from the battery are made to guide 52 and contact 64.Insulation member 58 is apertured to pass the projection 60 which, whenthe mirror 48 and its frame are in downward or retracted position,separates the contacts 62 and 64 as shown in Fig. 8. When it is desiredto use the mirror 48, milady has the handbag in open and withdraws themirror and its frame to a position limited by the engagement ofstopsiii, provided on the frame 50, 5|, 4 with shoulders 68 on theguides 52, 54. By such operation, projection is withdrawn from betweencontacts 62 and 64, whichspring into engagement and close the electricalcircuit to the bulb 28, 'as indicated in Fig. 9. It is not nec- 5'0essary to withdraw the mirror to the extent permitted by the stops 66and shoulders 68, but where it is desired to light the bulb 28 merelyfor illuminating the interior of the handbag, a small upward movement ofthe mirror is sufii- 5 cient to withdraw the projection 60 and close theswitch 52, 54.

Fig. 12 is a circuit diagram of the series circuit by which current issupplied to lamp bulb 28 from battery l4 through switch 62, 64, which gois operated semi-automatically as hereinbefore set forth.

It is understood that the sliding mirror mechanism shown in Fig. 11 maybe used independently of the.handbag or container, if desired. 35 It isfurther understood that the mirror and light may be placed in eitherside or wall of the handbag or container, in the event it is desired touse such a bag or container without a partition. I

,7 While in the modification shown in Figs. 8-11, we have notillustrated the handbagin full, it is evident that the exteriorilluminator shown in ,Figs. 1-6.may be employed in the handbag inconjunction with the type of interior illuminator shown in- Figs. 8-11,and such an arrangement is intended'as part of our invention. Y

While we have illustratedand described the invention in detail it is tobe understood that the invention is not to be limited'to such details,but only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

We claimz, I

1. In avhandbag or like container, in combination, a partition fordividing said container into compartments, a battery mounted in the baseof said container, a frame mounted in said partition and comprisingelectrically insulated vertical guides constituting current conductors,a mirror structure mounted to slide vertically in said frame andincluding electrically insulated side members engaged with therespective guides and constituting current conductors in connectiontherewith, said side members having upward extensions thereonconstituting electrical terminals, an elongated hood of insulationmaterial having a lamp socket mounted therein and electric conductorsextending from said socket to opposite ends of said elongated hood, saidhood being pivotally mounted between the extensions on saidside memberswith said electric conductors in contact with said extensions,anelectric lamp mounted in said lamp socket, and

switch contacts mountedjon said frame and connected in circuit with saidbattery and said lamp, said mirror structure having a portion thereofconstituted as a switch actuator cooperable with said switch contacts,said switch actuator being operated by' an upward movement of saidmirror structure from its lowermost position for effecting engagement ofsaid switch contacts and closing the circuit to said lamp for supplyinglight to the compartments inside said container and to said mirror.

2. In a handbag or like container, in combination, a partition fordividing said container into compartments, a battery mounted in the baseof said container, a frame mounted in said partition, a mirror structuremounted to slide vertically in said frame, an electric lamp carried bysaid mirror structure, and switch contacts connected in circuit withsaid battery and said lamp and comprising coacting contact elementsinsulatingly mounted on said frame and normally engaged, said mirrorstructure having an insulated projection thereon arranged in cooperativerelation to said switch contacts for separating said contacts when saidmirror structure is in lowermost position, said insulated projectionconstituting a switch actuator operableby an upward movement of saidmirror structure from its lowermost position for effecting engagement ofsaid switch contacts and closing the circuit to said lamp for supplyinglight to the compartments inside said container and to said mirror.

LEROY M. CHAUNCEY J. KUNKEL.

